This is the second in a series of writing workshops. Whether you attended the first workshop or not, you’re invited to join in. It’s a chance to spend time writing with prompts, discuss what keeps us consistent, and commit to jumpstart your writing in 2025. You won’t be required to read your work aloud and there will be no critiques.

Reserve your spot!

Loss of a home, whether through financial difficulties, divorce, illness, or natural disasters like wildfires, is a widespread and growing problem affecting all of us. Often thought of as only an urban problem, homelessness also occurs in suburban and rural areas throughout Washington State. What are the historical roots of homelessness, and what lessons can we learn from them? What are the common meanings of home to us, and how can we apply those meanings to our responses to homelessness in our communities?

In this talk, author and professor Josephine Ensign leads audiences through a values clarification exercise that includes individual writing time. Professor Ensign will share her research on the history of homelessness in her hometown of Seattle, along with discussion of what these stories can teach us about the contemporary crisis of homelessness throughout our state and country.

This workshop is co-sponsored by the Concrete Chamber of Commerce.

Cougars & Webcams

Sunday, January 29, 2023
2:00 p.m. • Pay As You Wish
If you’ve ever been to one of Leah Serna’s photo shows, you know there are lots of stories about wildlife! Leah likes sharing the antics she captures and the information she’s gleaned — especially through the use of game cams. In this presentation, she’ll show you what she’s learned about cougars and other critters and what webcams she uses. “Pay as you wish” means it’s free, but if you want to drop something in the popcorn bucket on the counter, it’ll help us reimburse Leah’s travel.

Tales from South Africa

Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Do you want to know what really happened when we went to South Africa when we visited? That our motor coach broke down in the middle of nowhere in 100 degree heat… That an elephant stormed our safari jeep….That Val (who is susceptible to vertigo and has terrible night vision) climbed ladders to the top of a mountain in the dark… That we danced and drummed and had more fun than we’ve ever had on any of our travels. Every day was full of joy, laughter, music, and amazing sights. We’d like to share some of this with you. Please join us.